Firing mechanism for a multishot rocket launcher

ABSTRACT

A trigger-actuated firing mechanism for a multishot rocket launcher comprises in association with each rocket a firing pin with a roller arranged for cam engagement by a trigger-rotated cam rotor to retract and release for rocket primer impact the related firing pin, and disposed in cooperation with the cam rotor is an antihang-up device including a spring-biased driving member actuatable against a driven member connected to the cam rotor to effect counterrotation thereof, and thereby return the firing pin engaged by the cam rotor back to its normal position, if trigger pressure is released before the retraction and release of the firing pin is completed. Means are provided for mounting the cam rotor for limited free rotation on the supporting shaft whereby the cam rotor is accelerated in the direction of rotation sufficiently, by the camming engagement of the cam lobe peak with the circumference of the roller when the cam lobe peak is moved past the center of the engaged roller, to release the roller and assure immediate impact of the related firing pin against the associated rocket primer.

Uiiiififl gt Reed ts tet 5] Feh.15,1972

[54] FIRING MECHANISM FOR A MULTISHOT ROCKET LAUNCHER [72] Inventor:Frederick P. Reed, Davenport, Iowa [73] Assignee: The United States ofAmerica as represented by the Secretary of the Army 22 Filed: July 14,1970 211 Appl.No.: 54,722

[52] US. Cl. ..89/1.8l3, 42/1 R, 89/1 L, 89/27 R [51] Int. Cl ..F41f3/04 [58] Field of Search ..89/9, 12, 160, l L, 27 R, 27 C, 89/126; 42/1R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,535,979 10/1970 Ashley..89/l2 X Primary Examiner-Samuel W. Engle Attomey-Harry M. Saragovitz,Edward J. Kelly, Herbert Berl and Albert E. Arnold, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A trigger-actuated firing mechanism for a multishot rocketlauncher comprises in association with each rocket a firing pin with aroller arranged for cam engagement by a trigger-rotated cam rotor toretract and release for rocket primer impact the related firing pin, anddisposed in cooperation with the cam rotor is an antihang-up deviceincluding a spring-biased driving member actuatable against a drivenmember connected to the cam rotor to effect counterrotation thereof, andthereby return the firing pin engaged by the cam rotor back to itsnormal position, if trigger pressure is released before the retractionand release of the firing pin is completed. Means are provided formounting the cam rotor for limited free rotation on the supporting shaftwhereby the cam rotor is accelerated in the direction of rotationsufficiently, by the camming engagement of the cam lobe peak with thecircumference of the roller when the cam lobe peak is moved past thecenter of the engaged roller, to release the roller and assure immediateimpact of the related firing pin against the associated rocket primer.

7 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEBFEBIS I972 3.641.868

SHEET 3 [IF 5 'INVENTOR FIEHEII'Ek PREEEL ATTORNEYS PATENTEBFEB 1 5 I9723.641.868

sum u [1F 5 INVENTOR Frederick PREELEL W 2* ATTO NEY;

PNENTEBFEB 15 I972 3.641 .868

SHEET 5 or 5 FrederinkEEeeil BY W T OR EYS FIRING MECHANISM FOR AMULTISHOT ROCKET LAUNCHER The invention described herein may bemanufactured, used, and licensed by or for the Government forgovernmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to multishot rocketlaunchers and pertains more particularly to a firing mechanism thereforcomprising a trigger-actuated cam rotor which has camming engagementwith successive ones of the firing pins, for retraction and releasethereof.

In such a firing mechanism for a particular rocket launcher trouble hasbeen experienced when trigger pressure is released before the cam rotoris rotated sufficiently to release the firing pin roller which isengaged thereby to convert rotational displacement of the cam rotor totranslational displacement to the related firing pin whereby, theengaged roller is hung up along the cam lobe ramp of the cam rotor asthere is not sufficient force in the firing pin spring to counterrotatethe cam rotor back to its normal position. Or, the roller is hung up onthe cam lobe peak whereby the associated rocket may be accidentallylaunched by a sufficient jar on the rocket launcher to displace theroller on the peak, making for a hazardous condition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of this invention toprovide for such a firing mechanism an antihang-up device which willreturn the firing pin back to its forward safe position if triggerpressure is released while one of the rollers is located along the camlobe ramp or will continue the rotation of the cam rotor for release ofthe engaged roller, and consequential impact of the related firing pinagainst the associated rocket primer, when the peak of the cam lobe islocated past the center of the engaged roller.

To achieve this object there is provided in cooperation with the camrotor an antihang-up device comprising a driving member disposed fortranslational displacement by a driven member through the cammingcontact of apex terminated posts thereon with cam lobes on the drivingmember, responsive to rotation of the cam lobe, to load a cooperatingspring backing up the driving member. If rotation of the cam rotor isinterrupted while the firing pin roller is on the cam lobe ramp thepressure of the driving member spring applied to the driven membereffects counterrotation of the cam rotor so as to return the engagedfiring pin back to its forward safe position. Means are also providedfor mounting the cam rotor for limited free rotation on its mountingshaft so that when the peak of the cam lobe moves past the center of theroller the cam rotor is accelerated in the direction of rotation adistance assuring release of the roller from the cam lobe andconsequential impact of the associated firing pin against the primer ofthe respective rocket to initiate the launching thereof.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following specification and the accompanying drawings which are forthe purpose of illustration only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinallycross-sectioned view of the section of a multishot rocket launcher whichincludes the firing mechanism and shows all the members of the firingmechanism in their normal positions;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view of the antihang-up device similar to that shown in FIG.1 but shows the relationship of the members when trigger pull on thelanyard is initiated;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but shows the relationship of themembers when the lanyard is pulled sufficiently to locate the peak ofthe cam lobe on the cam rotor in alignment with the center of theroller;

FIG. 7 is a displacement diagram showing the cam profile through 360 ofoperation and relationship of the firing pin rollers therewith;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the cooperation of thesafety member with the cam rotor;

FIG. 9 is a view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the driven, cam rotor and safety members.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Shown in the figures is amultishot rocket launcher 12 comprising a receiver 14 and a cylindricalhousing 16 mounted to the front end thereof. Housing 16 is adapted toreceive for launching a cluster of four rockets which are securedtogether in rectangular relationship by a clip so that the longitudinalaxes of the rockets, and therefore the primer elements therein, areequally spaced relative to each other and to the central axis of thehousing. Neither the clip nor the rockets are shown as they are not partof this invention.

Shown in FIG. 1 are two of the four recesses 18 which are formed in therear end of housing 16 to respectively receive the primers related tothe four rockets. Each of the rockets is launched by an associatedfiring pin 20 which includes a body member 22 and a striker assembly 24.Such striker assembly 24 comprises a sleeve 25 and a striker pin 26slidingly received thereby, and body-member 22 includes a large diameterportion 28 and a coaxial stem portion 30 of smaller diameter extendingrearwardly therefrom.

Extending rearwardly in housing 16, from each of the recesses 18 and incoaxial alignment therewith is a bore 32 which is counterbored at 34from the rear face of the housing to a shoulder 36 for slidinglyreceiving the front end of striker assembly 24 so that striker pin 26may make impact with the associated primer to initiate the launching ofthe respective rocket. Each body member 22 is received by a cooperatinghole 38 longitudinally formed in receiver 14 for coaxial alignment withthe respective bore 32. Hole 38 includes a forward section 40 whichextends rearwardly from the front end of receiver 14 to a shoulder 42and is adapted for slidingly receiving large diameter portion 28 of bodymember 22, and a rearward section 44 which extends coaxially from suchshoulder to the rear face of the receiver and is adapted for slidinglyreceiving stem portion 30. Stem portion 30 forms with large diameterportion 28 a rearwardly facing shoulder 46 and a compression spring 48is operationally disposed between shoulders 42 and 46 for biasing bodymember 22 forwardly in receiver 14.

Firing pins 20 are of the inertia type. That is, they are positioned,normally, away from contact with the primers of the associated rocketsbut, through inertia, make impact with the associated ones thereof afterbeing released from a retracted spring-pressed position. Provided ineach of the body members 22 is an axial well 50 which extends rearwardlyfrom the front end thereof and such well slidingly receives the rearportion of striker assembly 24. Striker pin 26 is fixed by pin 52 to abody member 22 so as to be propelled forwardly therewith for impactagainst the primer of the rocket in the associated recess 18. The frontend of sleeve 25 is received by counterbore 34 so as to contact shoulder36 and a compression spring 54 is disposed between the rear end of well50 and the rear end of sleeve 25 to bias body member 22 rearwardlyagainst the opposition of spring 48. Spring 54 is designed to opposespring 48 sufficiently so that when the forces of the springs are inbalance striker pin 26 is withdrawn from the associated recess 18. Apost 56 extends radially from body member 22 and rotatingly mountedthereon is a roller 58 which provides means assisting in the retractionand release of firing pin 20, as hereinafter described.

Striker pins 26 are successively retracted and released for impactagainst the primers of the rockets in the associated recesses 18 by anactuator mechanism 60 which is mounted within a stepped chamber 62longitudinally disposed in receiver 14. Actuator mechanism 60 includes ashaft 64 which extends along the length of chamber 62 into housing 16and which is journaled for rotation at 66 in receiver 14 and at 68 inhousing 16. Journal 68 comprises a bushing with an annular flange 69which is located outside the rear end of housing 16, as shown in FIG. 8.Mounted for free rotation on shaft 64 within the rear section of chamber62 is a pulley 70 having a circumferential channel 72 which receives atrigger pulled lanyard 74 anchored at one end to the pulley within suchchannel. As shown in FIG. 2, pulley 70 is engageable with shaft 64, fortransferring full trigger displacement of lanyard 74 to the shaft for atleast 90 rotation thereof each time the lanyard is pulled, through thecooperation of a pawl 76 mounted within the pulley with four equallyspaced teeth 78 formed around the shaft. A torsion spring 80 isoperationally disposed so as to be loaded by pulley 70, when lanyard 74is pulled, for returning the pulley to its nonnal position. Rear end 82of spring 80 is used, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, to bias pawl 76 againstshaft 64 for successive engagement with teeth 78. Mounted for limitedfree displacement on shaft 64 within the front section of chamber 62,and so as to have engageable cooperation with rollers 58 which extendthereinto, is a cam rotor 84 provided with, as shown in FIGS. 7, a pairof diametrically opposed slots 86 which are elongated in a transverse'plane respective to shaft 64 a distance at least equal to the radius ofrollers 58. Slots 86 receive ends 88 ofa pin 90 which extendsdiametrically through shaft 64 thereby to provide limited rotation ofcam rotor 84, relative to shaft 64, equal to the radius of rollers 58and, referring to FIG. 6, each of the slots includes one end 91 againstwhich ends 88 of pin 90 bear to transfer counterclockwise rotation ofthe shaft to cam rotor 84. Pin 90 extends through shaft 64 by means of alongitudinally elongated slot 92 therein which permits limitedlongitudinal displacement of cam rotor 84 relative to the shaft for apurpose hereinafter described. Cam rotor 84 is provided around the rearend thereof with a planar surface 94 which is coincident with a planedisposed normal to the longitudinal axis of the cam rotor and which isdisposed forwardly of rollers 58 so as to be contactable thereby. Whenrollers 58 have contact with surface 94, the associated firing pins aremaintained slightly retracted from their normal, unloaded positions, tosafe positions, thereby preventing accidental impact with the relatedrockets in housing 16, and the cam rotor is displaced forwardly throughthe biased contact of rollers 58 therewith, as far as permitted by theengagement of pin 90 with slot 92. Surface 94 is interrupted by a camlobe 96 comprising a ramp 98 which inclines rearwardly and in aclockwise direction, or from right to left referring to FIG. 7, forapproximately 90 to form peak 100 with a side 102 disposed normal tosurface 94. Side 102 extends forwardly beyond the plane of surface 94 toform one side of a firing depression 104 which provides a clearance forrollers 58, when snapping off peak 100, so that the related firing pins20 are free to be propelled into impact with the associated primers. Asloping surface 106 leads from firing depression 104 to surface 94 todirect roller 58 in the firing depression back to surface 94 the nexttime shaft 64 is rotated by trigger pull on lanyard 74.

Actuator mechanism 60 also includes an antihang-up device 107 forpreventing hang up of a roller 58 on ramp 98 or peak 100, as explainedhereinafter, which device comprises a driving member 108 and a drivenmember 110. Driving member 108 is mounted on shaft 64 for free slidingmovement therealong but is held against rational displacement relativethereto through the cooperation of tongue 112 thereon with alongitudinal slot 113 in the wall of chamber 62. A compression spring114 presses driving member 108 forwardly into resilient engagement withdriven member 110. Driven member 110 is secured to shaft 64 forwardly ofdriving member 108 by pin 90 which extends through mating holes therein,as shown in FIG. 4. Driven member 110 includes a bearing portion 118which mounts cam rotor 84 for free rotational movement thereon, and fourposts 120 which extend rearwardly from the bearing portion and areequally spaced therearound. Each of the posts is terminated by a pair ofangular surfaces comprising a forward surface 122 and a rearward surface123, respective to the counterclockwise direction of rotation of camrotor 84, and such surfaces form an apex 124.

Driving member 108 includes a pair of diametrically spaced cam lobes 126which extend forwardly therefrom for engageable cooperation withsuccessive pairs of posts 120 responsive to rotation of driven member110 relative to the driving member. Each of the cam lobes 126 isprovided with a helical surface 128 which inclines forwardly and in acounterclockwise direction, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, to form with astraight side 132, longitudinally disposed relative to the axis of shaft64, a peak 130. Thus, each time trigger pull is made on lanyard 74 andshaft 64 is rotated thereby at least through the engagement of pawl 76with successive ones of the teeth 78, apexes 124 on the pair of posts120 engaged with cam lobes 126 move along helical surfaces 128 thereofto move driving member 108 rearwardly. At the same time, the rotation ofshaft 64 is transferred to cam rotor 84 through the engagement of ends88 of pin 90 with ends 91 of slots 86 so that ramp 98 of the cam rotormoves relative to one of the rollers 58 to retract the associated firingpin 20 against the bias of its cooperating spring 48. Before the triggerdisplacement of lanyard 74 is completed, roller 58 snaps off peak withcam rotor 84 being rotated by camming contact of such peak with theroller to where ends 88 contact the opposite ends of slots 86, therebypermitting entry of the roller into firing depression 104 and impact ofthe respective firing pin 20 against the primer of the related rocket toinitiate the launching thereof. At the same time, apexes 124 of the pairof posts engaged by cam lobes 126 are moved past peaks thereof and alongrearward surfaces 123 to free driving member 108 for return to itsnormal position by spring 114 and to position the next pair of the postsfor engagement with cam lobes 126.

Referring to FIG. 6, it is seen that when ends 88 of pin 90 are incontact with ends 91 of slots 86, peak 100 of cam lobe 96 and peak 130of one of the cam lobes 126 are both on centerline x-x and thatcenterline yy of the one of the pair of apexes 124 engaged with camlobes 126 is spaced below centerline xx, whereby antihang-up device 106functions to prevent hangup of a roller 58 along ramp 98 or on peak 100as hereinafter explained.

If trigger pull on lanyard 74 is released while one of the rollers 58 ison ramp 98, and a pair of the apexes 124 are therefore engaged withhelical surfaces 128, the pressure of spring 114 against driving member108 is cammingly applied to shaft 64 through driven member 110 to rotatecam rotor 84 backwards thereby permitting the return of the relatedfiring pin 20 to its forward safe position, where the roller is incontact with surface 94, through the bias of related spring 48. If thetrigger pull on lanyard 74 should be released when one of the rollers 58is located on peak 100, so that its center is located on centerline xx,as shown in FIG. 6, the roller is prevented from being hung up on thepeak as the pair of apexes 124 are still in camming engagement withhelical surface 128 and thereby the pressure of spring 114 is applied toshaft 64 which is counterrotated thereby to permit the roller to backdown ramp 98 to surface 94 and return the associated firing pin 20 toits forward safe position. However, if the trigger pull on lanyard 74should be released when the center of one of the rollers 58 is locatedpast the centerline x-x the pressure of spring 48, which is loaded bythe retraction of the related firing pin 20, is cammingly applied by therespective roller through peak 110 to cam rotor 84 to continue therotation of the cam rotor free of shaft 64 a distance equal to theradius of rollers 58, as permitted by the cooperation of ends 88 inslots 86, to where the engaged roller is free to snap forwardly intofiring depression 104 and permit impact of the related firing pin 20with the primer of the associated rocket.

When cam rotor 84 is in its normal position with no trigger pull beingmade upon lanyard 74, three of the rollers 58 are in contact withsurface 94 to block forward displacement of the related firing pins 20while the fourth roller is located in firing depression 104, as shown inFIG. 7. Consequently, when a clip of four live rockets is installed tohousing 16, the rocket indexed with the firing pin 20 having roller 58thereof located in firing depression 104, might accidentally bedischarged by a sudden jar upon the launcher if sufficient to propel thefiring pin into impact with the associated primer. To prevent thismishap, there is provided a safety member 134 of ring configurationwhich is rotatably mounted on flange 69 of journal 68 and is alsodisplaceable rearwardly against cam rotor 84. Provided on safety member134, as shown in FIGS. and 11, are four equally spaced radial detents136 which protrude from the front face thereof and such detents aresimultaneously received by four mating grooves 138 in the rear end ofhousing 16 when indexed therewith. The pressure of springs 48 applied tocam rotor 84 through rollers 58 having contact therewith is in turnapplied to safety member 134 to resiliently hold detents 136 in grooves138 when indexed therewith. A handle 140 provides means for manuallyrotating safety member 134 between SAFE and FIRE positions.

Thus, when safety member 134 is in the FIRE position with detents 136received by grooves 138, cam rotor 84 is located in its forward normalposition whereby three of the four firing pins 20 are held, through thecontact of the respective rollers 58 with surface 94, in their safepositions while the roller of the fourth firing pin is located unblockedin firing depression 104. When safety member 134 is rotated to the SAFEposition, detents 136 are moved out of grooves 138 to displace thesafety member rearwardly against cam rotor 84 which is rearwardlydisplaced accordingly so that the inside surface of firing depression104, noted at 143 in FIG. 7, contacts roller 58 therein to block forwarddisplacement of the related firing pin 20 into accidental impact withthe associated primer.

OPERATION With housing 16 loaded with rockets, the firing mechanism ofthis invention is ready to launch one of such rockets when safety member134 is indexed in the FIRE position. The firing mechanism actsresponsive to trigger pull on lanyard 74 whereby shaft 64 is rotated 90.As shaft 64 rotates, ramp 98 on cam rotor 84 moves against one of therollers 58 to cammingly retract the associated firing pin 20. At thesame time apexes.l24 of a pair of the posts 120 on driven member 110move along helical surfaces 128 of driving member 108 which, thereby, isretracted to load its cooperating spring 114. Immediately before the 90rotation of shaft 64 is completed peak 100 moves past the engaged roller58 and the camming engagement therebetween accelerates cam rotor 84forwardly in the direction of rotation a distance equal to the radius ofthe roller, as determined by the displacement of ends 88 in slots 86,whereby the engaged roller is free to be propelled by the force of thecompressed spring 48 into firing depression 104 for impact of therelated firing pin 20 with the associated primer.

When peak 100 moves sufficiently past the center of roller 58, so thatthe roller can not hang up thereon and the need for antihang-up device107 is no longer required, apexes 124 on driven member 110 move pastpeaks 130 of cam lobes 126 of driving member 108 thereby permitting thedriving member, which is no longer required, to be returned to itsnormal position. Release of the trigger pull on lanyard 74 permitspulley 70 to be rotated to its normal position and so in position toengage pawl 76 therein with the next one of the teeth 78 for a further90 rotation of shaft 64 and the launching of another one of the rocketsthe next time trigger pull is made on the lanyard.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to theexact details of construction shown and described, for obviousmodifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

lclaim:

1. In a mutlishot rocket launcher comprising a housing for receiving aplurality of rockets for launching, and a firing mechanism including afiring pin associated with each of said rockets to initiate thelaunching thereof, a roller rotatingly mounted to each of said firingpins, a cam rotor, means for sequentially rotating said cam rotor insegments of rotational equal to the number of firing pins, and a camlobe on said rotor engageable during each segment of rotation with asuccessive one of firing rollers for retraction and release of therespective one of said firing pins, the improvement comprisingantihang-up means disposed in cooperation with said cam rotor forpreventing hand up of one of said rollers on said cam lobe when rotationof said cam rotor is stopped before retraction and release of therespective one of said firing pins is completed, said antihang-up meansincluding a driven member arranged for displacement by said meanssequentially rotating said cam rotor, a driving member actuatable bysaid driven member responsive to displacement thereof, energy storingmeans disposed in operational cooperation with said driving member, andmeans for transferring energy from said driven member through saiddriving member to said energy storing means responsive to displacementof said driven member by said means sequentially rotating said cam rotorand from said energy storing means through said driving member back tosaid driven member to effect counterrotation of said cam rotor when asegmental rotation of said cam rotor is not completed.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said cam lobe is providedwith an inclined ramp engageable with successive ones of said rollersresponsive to sequential rotation of said cam rotor for retracting therespective ones of said firing pins against the bias of related springsand an apex terminating said ramp to release the one of said rollersengaged thereby when the respective one of the said firing pins isretracted and permit displacement thereof to launch the associated oneof said rockets, and including means for mounting said cam rotor on asupporting drive shaft of said means sequentially rotating said camrotor to effect limited free rotation of said cam rotor relative to saidshaft and acceleration of said cam rotor relative thereto in thedirection of rotation when said apex is located past the center of saidroller engaged by said ramp.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for mountingsaid cam rotor on said drive shaft comprises a pin extendingdiametrically through said shaft to form a pair of ends extendingtherefrom, and a pair of slots provided in said cam rotor for receivingsaid ends so as to transfer rotation of said shaft to said cam rotor,said slots being elongated in a transverse plane relative to said shaftto permit limited free rotation of said cam rotor relative to saidshaft.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said energy storing meanscomprises a spring mounted on said drive shaft, and including means formounting said driving member on said shaft for translational,nonrotating displacement relative thereto so as to be displaceableagainst said spring for compression thereof, means for mounting saiddriven member on said drive shaft for rotation therewith, andcooperating cam means on said driving and driven members for convertingrotational displacement of said driven member by said drive shaft totranslational displacement of said driving member against said springand for converting translation of said driving member by said spring tocounterrotation of said driven member and said drive shaft.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said cooperating cammeans on said driving and driven members are disposed in operationalengagement when one of said rollers is located on said ramp and saidapex, and including means for disengaging said cam means when said apexis located past the center of the one of said rollers engaged with saidramp.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said cam rotor comprisesa planar annular surface around one end ar ranged for contact by all ofsaid rollers except one thereof to block displacement of the respectiveones of said firing pins to launch the associated ones of said rockets,said surface leading to said ramp for directing said rollers from saidsurface to said peak responsive to segmental rotation of said cam rotor,a side disposed normal to said planar surface to form said peak withsaid ramp, and a firing depression located at the base of said side forreceiving said rollers when released from said peak to permitdisplacement of the associated firing pins to launch the associated onesof said rockets.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said cam rotor is mountedfor limited longitudinal displacement relative to said shaft and throughthe contact of said rollers with said surface is pressed forwardly tothe forward extent of its limited longitudinal displacement by saidfiring pin biasing springs, and including an inside section of saidfiring depression, and a safety member disposed between said cam rotorand the adjacent face of said housing for manual rotation between a fireand a safe position, said safety member comprising detent meansextending from the end thereof facing said receiver for contact withsaid face thereof when said safety member is in the safe position toposition said cam rotor away from said face and position said insidesection so that when one of said rollers is in contact therewith theassociated one of said firing pins is blocked against impactdisplacement to launch the associated one of said rockets, and matingrecesses in said face for receiving said detents when said safety memberis in the fire position permitting displacement of said cam rotor by thebias of said firing pins springs towards said housing to where saidinside section is positioned so as not to block displacement of saidfiring pins to launch the associated ones of said rockets when therelated ones of said rollers are released from said peak into saidfiring depression.

1. In a mutlishot rocket launcher comprising a housing for receiving aplurality of rockets for launching, and a firing mechanism including afiring pin associated with each of said rockets to initiate thelaunching thereof, a roller rotatingly mounted to each of said firingpins, a cam rotor, means for sequentially rotating said cam rotor insegments of rotational equal to the number of firing pins, and a camlobe on said rotor engageable during each segment of rotation with asuccessive one of firing rollers for retraction and release of therespective one of said firing pins, the improvement comprisingantihang-up means disposed in cooperation with said cam rotor forpreventing hand up of one of said rollers on said cam lobe when rotationof said cam rotor is stopped before retraction and release of therespective one of said firing pins is completed, said antihang-up meansincluding a driven member arranged for displacement by said meanssequentially rotating said cam rotor, a driving member actuatable bysaid driven member responsive to displacement thereof, energy storingmeans disposed in operational cooperation with said driving member, andmeans for transferring energy from said driven member through saiddriving member to said energy storing means responsive to displacementof said driven member by said means sequentially rotating said cam rotorand from said energy storing means through said driving member back tosaid driven member to effect counterrotation of said cam rotor when asegmental rotation of said cam rotor is not completed.
 2. The inventionas defined in claim 1 wherein said cam lobe is provided with an inclinedramp engageable with successive ones of said rollers responsive tosequential rotation of said cam rotor for retracting the respective onesof said firing pins against the bias of related springs and an apexterminating said ramp to release the one of said rollers engaged therebywhen the respective one of the said firing pins is retracted and permitdisplacement thereof to launch the associated one of said rockets, andincluding means for mounting said cam rotor on a supporting drive shaftof said means sequentially rotating said cam rotor to effect limitedfree rotation of said cam rotor relative to said shaft and accelerationof said cam rotor relative thereto in the direction of rotation whensaid apex is located past the center of said roller engaged by saidramp.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said means formounting said cam rotor on said drive shaft comprises a pin extendingdiametrically through said shaft to form a pair of ends extendingtherefrom, and a pair of slots provided in said cam rotor for receivingsaid ends so as to transfer rotation of said shaft to said cam rotor,said slots being elongated in a transverse plane relative to said shaftto permit limited free rotation of said cam rotor relative to saidshaft.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said energystoring means comprises a spring mounted on said drive shaft, andincluding means for mounting said driving member on said shaft fortranslational, nonrotating displacement relative thereto so as to bedisplaceable against said spring for compression thereof, means formounting said driven member on said drive shaft for rotation therewith,and cooperating cam means on said driving and driven members forconverting rotational displacement of said driven member by said driveshaft to translational displacement of said driving member against saidspring and for converting translation of said driving member by saidspring to counterrotation of said driven member and said drive shaft. 5.The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said cooperating cam meanson said driving and driven members are disposed in operationalengagement when one of said rollers is located on said ramp and saidapex, and including means for disengaging said cam means when said apexis located past the center of the one of said rollers engaged with saidramp.
 6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said cam rotorcomprises a planar annular surface around one end arranged for contactby all of said rollers except one thereof to block displacement of therespective ones of said firing pins to launch the associated ones ofsaid rockets, said surface leading to said ramp for directing saidrollers from said surface to said peak responsive to segmental rotationof said cam rotor, a side disposed normal to said planar surface to formsaid peak with said ramp, and a firing depression located at the base ofsaid side for receiving said rollers when released from said peak topermit displacement of the associated firing pins to launch theassociated ones of said rockets.
 7. The invention as defined in claim 6wherein said cam rotor is mounted for limited longitudinal displacementrelative to said shaft and through the contact of said rollers with saidsurface is pressed forwardly to the forward extent of its limitedlongitudinal displacement by said firing pin biasing springs, andincluding an inside section of said firing depression, and a safetymember disposed between said cam rotor and the adjacent face of saidhousing for manual rotation between a fire and a safe position, saidsafety member comprising detent means extending from the end thereoffacing said receiver for contact with said face thereof when said safetymember is in the safe position to position said cam rotor away from sAidface and position said inside section so that when one of said rollersis in contact therewith the associated one of said firing pins isblocked against impact displacement to launch the associated one of saidrockets, and mating recesses in said face for receiving said detentswhen said safety member is in the fire position permitting displacementof said cam rotor by the bias of said firing pins springs towards saidhousing to where said inside section is positioned so as not to blockdisplacement of said firing pins to launch the associated ones of saidrockets when the related ones of said rollers are released from saidpeak into said firing depression.